Sealing and trim ring for sink

ABSTRACT

A TRIM RING FOR DISPOSITION AROUND THE LATERAL EXTENDING LIP AT THE TOP OF A SINK SEATED IN AN APERTURE IN A COUNTERTOP TO SEAL OFF THE POINT OF ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE LIP OR RIM OF THE SINK AND THE COUNTERTOP, PROVIDE A PLEASING APPEARANCE, AND WHICH TRIM RING IS LOCKED TO   THE EDGE OF THE APERTURE IN THE COUNTERTOP WHEN A PORTION OF THE RINGS IS MERELY PRESSED INTO POSITION.

Jan. 19, 1971 H. D. DRAIN 3,555,571

SEALING AND TRIM RING FOR SINK Filed Oct. 3, 1968 x /m I m9@ @ew-5 dwf/*always UnitedStates Patent O ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A trim ring for disposition around the lateral extend- 4ing lip at the top of a sink seated in an aperture in a countertop to seal olf the point of engagement between the lip or rim of the sink and the countertop, provide a pleasing appearance, and which trim ring is locked to the edge of the aperture in the countertop when a portion of the rings is merely pressed into position.

Heretofore, trim rings or frames for sinks commonly had some means tocontribute to the support of the sink itself, and such means in cooperation with other supporting elements provided a sink supporting arrangement requiring adjustment from underneath the sink. In each instance of which I am aware, the sink trim ring or frame contributed in some manner to the support of the sink itself. Consequently, formerly known sink trim rings or frames were objectionably expensive and required an objectionable amount of labor for the complete installation of the sink.

The instant invention overcomes the above problems and` disadvantages of structures known heretofore in the provision of a trim rim for a sink which, while not lending any support to the sink itself, nevertheless prevents unintentional removal or tilting of the sink relatively to the countertop in which it is disposed. Further, the trim ring of the instant invention is securely held in position by merely pressing a portion of the ring downwardly through the counter opening, the trim ring being so arranged as to automatically lock itself in position, whereby it maintains an effective seal around the sink. The construction is such that the trim ring may be snapped around the lip or rim of the sink after which the sink and a portion of the trim rim may be merely pressed through the aperture in the counter in order to effect complete mounting of the sink. The trim ring is simple in construction, economical, simple and effective in operation, automatically compensates for variances in shape of a sink that is die drawn, and requires very little effort to install.0ther advantages will become apparent from disclosures hereinafter.

While the instant invention is herein explained in connection with a sink, it will be noted that it could equally aswell be utilized with other structures requiring sealing around the edge thereof such as countertop stoves or portions thereof and various other structures as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a sink mounted in a countertop and equipped with a trim ring or frame embodying principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is also a vertical sectional view illustrating the structure of FIG. 2 prior to assembly; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the outside of the trim ring taken substantially as indicated by the line IV-IV of FIG. 3.

3,555,577 Patented Jan. 19, 1971 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The illustrated embodiment of the instant invention, in the form of a trim ring or sink frame generally indicated by numeral 1, is shown operatively associated with a sink 2 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The sink 2 is of the usual bowl-shape and has a laterally extending lip rim or flange 3 around the top of the sink bowl. The sink may be provided with suitable apertures 4 for a drain, and 5-5 for the usual hot and cold water fittings. These latter apertures are contained in an eleavtion 6 that may be integrally formed with the sink and which contains the apertures for the fittings, in a known manner.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 the sink is shown seated within a countertop 7 having a sink accommodating opening 8 therethrough. The countertop may be of any suitable material, but as shown may satisfactorily be of wood, pressed wood, or the like having a surface 9 of thermosetting plastic resistant to chemicals, detergents, and heat stainless steel, or other suitable material. As best seen in FIG. 2, the opening 8 in the countertop is of such a size that the lateral extending rim 3 of the sink overlies the opening entirely therearound so that the sink is actually supported by the countertop. In the illustrated instance, the sink is shown as being of stainless steel, Monel metal, or equivalent material, although other materials might well be used.

The trim ring 1 may satisfactorily be formed of stainless steel and, seen in FIG. 2, is generally T-shaped in cross-section. This trim ring is shaped from a single strip of stock by folding the same so as to define an upper generally horizontal flange 10 outwardly bent or deviated as indicated at 11 so that the inner edge 12 of the flange which extends over the rim 3 of the sink will turn down into positive contact with the upper face of the sink rim, even through the remainder of the flange 10 may not be in actual contact with the sink rim. The outer edge of the flange 10 merges into a fold 13 which in turn merges into an under flange 14 of less Width than the flange 10 and this flange 14 in turn extends to a bend which forms a downwardly extending vertical flange 15, this flange being sized to fit rather intimately within the opening in the countertop. Struck from the flange 15 are a plurality of barbs 16, spaced at relatively short intervals around the flange 15, which extend obliquely outwardly and upwardly. These barbs have a definite point at the top thereof and tend by their inherent resiliency to maintain their outward and upward slope.

The trim ring 1 is preferably formed from a single strip of material and bent into the proper shape depending upon the contour of the particular sink. Then the ends of the strip are abutted and. welded as indicated at 17 in FIG. l. The trim ring is therefore completely formed before it is applied to the sink rim. It will be noted with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, that the trim ring is sized so that there will be a space entirely therearound between the outer edge of the sink rim 3 and the fold 13 in the trim ring. Such space permits the trim ring to be snapped on over the sink rim after the ends of the trim ring have been welded together. By virtue of this space and the fold 13 there will be a spring action between the flanges 10 and 14 in that region when pressure is brought to bear on the flange 10 and then the pressure released.

The trim ring 1 may be snapped around the laterally projecting rim of the sink prior to or contemporaneously with the installation of the sink in the countertop. When the countertop is prepared for reception of the sink, a strip 18 of industrial cloth-backed adhesive tape is secured to the edge of the countertop defining the opening therein. To firmly install the sink and the countertop it is then merely necessary to insert the sink carrying the trim rim in the countertop opening and then apply pressure to the flange of the trim ring forcing the flange 15 downwardly through the aperture in the countertop, the barbs 16 exing inwardly to permit this, and when the sink and trim ring are rmly disposed in position pressure is released and the spring action between the anges 10 and 14 adjacent the fold 13 will encourage the barbs 16 in their penetration into the adhesive tape strip 18 and the countertop 7 itself. The strip 18 affords a better grip for the barbs. The flange 14 of the trim ring will then rest flatly upon the countertop and, although the actual weight of the sink is carried by the countertop, the trim ring effectively presents accidental or unintentional elevation of any portion of the sink from its seated position upon the countertop. Since the flange 14 of the trim ring underlies a part of the rim of the sink while the flange 10 overlies that portion slightly spaced therefrom, it will be noted that the trim ring automatically compensates in appearance for any variances in shape of the sink rim due to the drawing operation in forming the sink. Also, the spring action adjacent the fold 13 by the deviation 11 in the flange 10 causes the inner edge 12 of that flange to positively engage the outer face of the sink rim 3. As a result, the external appearance of the installed sink and trim ring is one of uniformity and pleasant appearance and a seal between the sink rim and the countertop is effective to prevent leakage of liquid from the countertop through the sink opening therein. It will be noted further that the trim ring is economical in construction, and the sink may be installed with far less labor than was heretofore possible. Should the sink ever have to lbe removed for any reason, the economy of the tn'm ring and the installation of the sink fully warrants the destruction of the trim ring in order to permit such removal.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected Without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A sealing and trim ring for a sink having a bo'wl and a laterally extending rim at the top thereof for insertion through an opening in a countertop with the sink rim overlying the countertop margin around said opening and being supported thereby, said ring comprising:

a metallic frame shaped to both overlie and underlie the sink rim with the underlying portion resting on the countertop around said opening, and

a locking flange depending from said frame insertable in the countertop opening With locking means engaging the generally vertically disposed countertop edge dening said opening when the sink is mounted in said opening and downward pressure is exerted on said frame.

2. The sealing and trim ring of claim 1, wherein said frame is endless and sized to snap on around the sink rim.

3. The sealing and trim ring of claim 1, including barbs on said locking flange extending outwardly and upwardly in position to bite into the countertop edge defining said opening upon any tendency to withdraw said flange from said opening.

4. The sealing and trim ring of claim 1, wherein the part of said frame which overlies the sink rim comprises a flange upwardly deviated intermediately thereof to cause the inner edge of said flange to intimately engage the sink rim therearound.

5. The sealing and trim ring of claim 4, wherein substantially only the inner edge of said upwardly deviated flange contacts the upper face of the sink rim and the remainder is spaced therefrom, whereby said ring compensates in appearance for any variations in shape of the sink rim resulting from the forming thereof.

6. The sealing and trim ring of claim 1, including a fold integrally interconnecting the parts of said frame which overlie and underlie the sink rim, there being a free space between the outer edge of the sink rim and the inner face of said fold thus providing a spring action when downward pressure is applied to said ring which causes said locking flange to tightly engage the countertop and said underlying part to tightly rest upon the countertop and the inner edge of said overlying part to tightly engage the upper face of the sink ange.

7. The sealing and trim ring of claim 3, including a strip of cloth-backed adhesive tape secured to the substantially vertical surface of the edge of the countertop defining the opening therein to enhance the engagement of said barbs with said edge.

8. In combination,

a sink having a receptacle portion and a laterally extending rim at the top thereof for insertion through an opening in a countertop with the sink rim overlying the countertop margin around said opening,

a trim ring carried `by said sink ange, a downwardly extending ange forming a part ofsaid ring and sized to intimately tit in the countertop opening, and

a series of outwardly extending barbs on said ring flange to Ibite into the countertop edge defining said opening,

whereby said countertop and ring as a unit may be inserted in the countertop opening and pressed downwardly and the unit is locked in position by said barbs.

9. The combination of claim 8, including a laterally extending ange on said trim ring underlying the rim of the sink.

10. The combination of claim 8, wherein said barbs are struck bodily from the downwardly extending ring flange.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,440,741 5/ 1948 Drain 4-187 2,539,464 1/1951 Norquist 4 187 2,699,234 1/ 1955 Spieth 189-88 2,897,516 8/ 1959 Ensch 4 187 3,034,150 5/1962 Lyon 4-1287 y3,423,770 1/19619 Jensen 4--187 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner D. B. MASSENBERG, Assistant Examiner 

